Deserve vs. Earn — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 29, 2023
Deserve implies a moral or ethical entitlement, while earn refers to receiving something in exchange for work or effort.
Difference Between Deserve and Earn
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Deserve often carries a moral weight, suggesting that a person is worthy of something based on their actions or character. For example, we might say someone deserves respect because they have acted honorably. Deserving is about what is right or just, rather than what has been tangibly done to receive a reward or outcome.
Earn, by contrast, implies a direct correlation between one's actions and the compensation they receive. It's transactional. When someone earns money, it is because they have provided a service or labor in exchange. Earning is the result of an agreed-upon exchange; it's a measurable transaction based on effort, time, or skill.
Deserve can be subjective and often varies by individual beliefs and societal norms. What one person or culture deems deserving may not be seen the same way by another. For instance, some might feel a whistleblower deserves praise for their courage, while others might not think so.
In the context of earning, however, the criteria are typically clear and objective. If a job pays an hourly wage, the amount earned is a straightforward calculation. Earned rewards are not subject to the same degree of personal or cultural interpretation as deserved ones are.
While both terms relate to receiving or having the right to receive something, deserve is more about justice or fairness, whereas earn is about the trade-off between work and reward. Both are important concepts in discussions of merit and compensation.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Worthy of something by virtue of actions.
Acquired through work or effort.
Ethical Implication
Morally entitled.
Entitled through agreement or effort.
Measurement
Subjective assessment.
Objective calculation.
Association
Justice, fairness.
Compensation, trade.
Usage
Often used in moral context.
Typically used in economic context.
Compare with Definitions
Deserve
Worthy of reward or punishment.
He deserves a promotion for his hard work.
Earn
Gain by labor.
He earned his paycheck through overtime work.
Deserve
Justified entitlement.
They deserve applause for their performance.
Earn
Accumulate by effort.
They earned enough points for a free flight.
Deserve
Appropriate to receive.
The charity deserves our support.
Earn
Receive as return.
Investments earn interest over time.
Deserve
Ethically fitting.
The student deserves praise for honesty.
Earn
Achieve through merit.
She earned her place at the university.
Deserve
To be worthy of; merit
She deserves a raise. He deserves to be treated with respect.
Earn
Obtain (money) in return for labour or services
I earn £10 an hour working in the shop
He earns his living as a lorry driver
Deserve
(transitive) To be entitled to, as a result of past actions; to be worthy to have.
After playing so well, the team really deserved their win.
After what he did, he deserved to go to prison.
This argument deserves a closer examination.
Earn
To gain especially for the performance of service, labor, or work
Earned money by mowing lawns.
Deserve
(obsolete) To earn, win.
Earn
To acquire or deserve as a result of effort or action
She earned a reputation as a hard worker.
Deserve
(obsolete) To reward, to give in return for service.
Earn
To yield as return or profit
A savings account that earns interest on deposited funds.
Deserve
(obsolete) To serve; to treat; to benefit.
Earn
(transitive) To gain (success, reward, recognition) through applied effort or work.
You can have the s'mores: you earned them, clearing the walkway of snow so well.
Deserve
To earn by service; to be worthy of (something due, either good or evil); to merit; to be entitled to; as, the laborer deserves his wages; a work of value deserves praise.
God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.
John Gay deserved to be a favorite.
Encouragement is not held out to things that deserve reprehension.
Earn
(transitive) To receive payment for work.
He earns seven million dollars a year as CEO.
My bank account is only earning one percent interest.
Deserve
To serve; to treat; to benefit.
A man that hathSo well deserved me.
Earn
(intransitive) To receive payment for work.
Now that you are earning, you can start paying me rent.
Deserve
To be worthy of recompense; - usually with ill or with well.
One man may merit or deserve of another.
Earn
(transitive) To cause (someone) to receive payment or reward.
My CD earns me six percent!
Deserve
Be worthy or deserving;
You deserve a promotion after all the hard work you have done
Earn
(transitive) To achieve by being worthy of.
To earn a spot in the top 20
Deserve
Merited by actions.
She believes she deserves some rest after the marathon.
Earn
To curdle (milk), especially in the cheesemaking process.
Earn
Of milk: to curdle, espcially in the cheesemaking process.
Earn
To strongly long or yearn (for something or to do something).
Earn
To grieve.
Earn
To merit or deserve, as by labor or service; to do that which entitles one to (a reward, whether the reward is received or not).
The high reputeWhich he through hazard huge must earn.
Earn
To acquire by labor, service, or performance; to deserve and receive as compensation or wages; as, to earn a good living; to earn honors or laurels.
I earn that [what] I eat.
The bread I have earned by the hazard of my life or the sweat of my brow.
Earn
To grieve.
Earn
To long; to yearn.
And ever as he rode, his heart did earnTo prove his puissance in battle brave.
Earn
To curdle, as milk.
Earn
Earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages;
How much do you make a month in your new job?
She earns a lot in her new job
This merger brought in lots of money
He clears $5,000 each month
Earn
Acquire or deserve by one's efforts or actions
Earn
Merit by service.
The soldier earned a medal for bravery.
Common Curiosities
Can you deserve something without working for it?
Yes, deserving something can be independent of work, such as inheriting a title.
Is deserving always tied to good behavior?
Deserving is often tied to positive actions, but it can relate to negative outcomes as well.
Do you always earn what you deserve?
Not necessarily, as earning is transactional and depends on many factors.
Can someone deserve something and not realize it?
Yes, self-perception doesn’t always align with what one deserves.
Is deserving based on opinion?
Yes, what one deserves can vary widely based on individual or cultural opinions.
Can laws dictate what we deserve?
Laws can set a framework for what is considered deserving in a legal context.
How can a business determine what an employee earns?
Through contracts, performance metrics, and agreed-upon wages or salaries.
Can "deserve" and "earn" be used interchangeably?
No, "deserve" relates to a moral right, while "earn" is about receiving due to effort.
Does earning always involve money?
No, one can earn things like trust, respect, or points in a system.
Is it possible to earn something and not deserve it?
Yes, situations like unfair advantages can lead to earning without deserving.
Are "earned" rewards always tangible?
Rewards can be intangible, like respect, which can still be earned.
Is deserving a legal term?
Deserving isn’t typically a legal term; it’s more moral or ethical.
Can deserving lead to earning?
While deserving can lead to earning, it's not a guaranteed outcome.
Does society determine what we deserve?
Society plays a role in shaping the concept of what individuals or groups deserve.
Can animals deserve or earn things?
In human terms, we can say animals deserve care or earn treats through behavior.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
